No. 01 · Landmark
Gyeongbokgung Palace
The principal Joseon-dynasty palace, founded 1395
The largest of Seoul's Five Grand Palaces, with the daily Changing of the Royal Guard ceremony in front of Gwanghwamun gate.
Read more →South Korea
Seoul
Palaces, K-pop, and street food until 3 AM
A capital that runs on fast Wi-Fi and slow tea — Joseon palaces, neon-soaked alleys, and 24-hour fried-chicken-and-beer culture.
When to go
April–May and September–October. June–August is hot/humid; January–February cold.
Getting around
Subway is one of the world's best — clean, fast, English-signed. T-money card works everywhere.
Seoul highlights
Don't miss
The top places to start with if you only have a day or two — the essentials before you go deeper.
No. 02 · Where to stay
Bukchon Hanok Village
600-year-old neighbourhood of traditional hanok houses
A residential neighbourhood between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, preserved with hundreds of traditional tile-roofed houses.
Read more →No. 03 · Where to stay
Myeongdong
Cosmetics, street food, and after-dark shopping
Seoul's busiest shopping district — K-beauty flagship stores, late-night street-food stalls, and the gigantic Lotte Department Store.
Read more →Things to do in Seoul
4 hand-picked
A curated mix of landmarks, neighborhoods, and museums worth your time in Seoul, South Korea — grouped by type below.
Landmark
1 place
Where to stays
3 places
Where to stay in Seoul
4 neighborhoods
Seoul is huge but the subway makes it small — stay in Myeongdong, Hongdae, or Itaewon and you can reach anywhere in 30 minutes.
Myeongdong
Shopping, street food, transit hub
Best for: First Seoul trip with everything close
Hongdae
Indie music, nightlife, students
Best for: Younger travelers and night owls
Itaewon
International food, bars, museums
Best for: Foodies and longer stays
Bukchon
Hanok houses, palaces, traditional
Best for: Quieter cultural stays
A 3-day itinerary, your way
If you only have a long weekend in Seoul.
Day 1
Palaces & Bukchon
Gyeongbokgung at opening (changing of the guard), Bukchon Hanok Village, lunch in Insadong, Changdeokgung secret garden, dinner in Gwangjang Market.
Day 2
Modern Seoul
Dongdaemun Design Plaza, lunch in Myeongdong, Lotte World Tower observation, dinner and bars in Hongdae.
Day 3
Itaewon & War Memorial
War Memorial of Korea morning, lunch in Itaewon, N Seoul Tower at sunset, late-night Korean BBQ and soju.